Ex-NBA Star Omri Casspi Raises $250M for Tech Startups

The first Israeli to play in the NBA is proving he's just as skilled at spotting winning startups as he was at sinking three-pointers.

Omri Casspi announced Thursday that his venture capital firm, Swish Ventures, raised $250 million for its third fund. The new funding brings the company's total to $800 million since launching in early 2025.

The money will support about 12 early-stage tech companies, with average investments of $20 million each. The focus areas include cybersecurity, artificial intelligence for industrial use, defense technology, and government tech solutions.

Casspi's track record speaks for itself. In just over a year, his portfolio companies have reached a combined valuation exceeding $60 billion. Eight of the 20 startups he's backed have already achieved unicorn status, meaning they're valued at over $1 billion each.

His investments include standout companies like Cognition AI, Applied Compute, EON, and Wonderful. These aren't just paper successes. They're real businesses solving real problems in cybersecurity, infrastructure, and emerging technologies.

The Ripple Effect

What makes Casspi's approach different is his hands-on partnership model. As the sole managing partner, he carefully selects a small number of exceptional founders each year rather than spreading investments thin across dozens of companies.

This focused strategy has attracted major institutional backers for the third fund, including US pension funds, leading American universities, family offices, and Sequoia Capital. These aren't casual investors. They're some of the most respected names in venture capital.

The new fund represents more than just money flowing into tech. It's creating jobs, driving innovation in critical areas like cybersecurity and defense, and supporting entrepreneurs who are building the next generation of transformative companies.

Casspi brings the same intensity to venture capital that he showed during his nine-season NBA career. "We want to be the most meaningful partners to the world's leading entrepreneurs," he said. "We believe in carefully selecting a small number of exceptional founders each year, allowing us to serve as true partners to them throughout their journey."

From basketball courts to boardrooms, Casspi is proving that the skills that make great athletes can translate into backing great companies and the founders building our future.